month beginning

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "month beginning" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to refer to the start of a month, often in financial or scheduling contexts. For example, "The report is due at the month beginning." Alternative expressions include "start of the month" and "beginning of the month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

On Friday, Parliament voted 297 to 132 to censure him and bar him from speaking for one month, beginning on Oct. 16.

The New York Times

Each month, beginning at puberty, a single egg is released.

The Washington Post

Courses are offered at least once per month beginning on a Wednesday.

Cornell University

The Indian diplomat will be at CIS for one month beginning February 3 , 2015

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Harlequin will publish two original titles a month, beginning in May.

The New York Times

ANOTHER PLACE TO SHUT The Meadowbrook Agrees to Quit Business for a Month, Beginning April 30.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

They met with the Pope in October, and again this month, beginning the reform of the dysfunctional Curia.

The New Yorker

But, with a series of tweets early this month — beginning with "Terrible!

The New Yorker

Chelsea play nine games next month, beginning with Sunday's visit of Southampton in the Premier League, and Mourinho had hoped just eight of them would be fully competitive.

Independent

Greece must make four payments to the International Monetary Fund worth €1.6 billion ($1.8 billion) this month, beginning with €300m due on Friday.

The Economist

Albert E. Isernio, then the chairman of Benefit Plan Administrators, testified that his company paid Mr. Blake a commission of $50,000 a month beginning in 1996.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that a specific reference date follows the phrase when used in formal or administrative writing to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Writers sometimes use "month beginning" without a clear noun or event it modifies. For example, 'The project started month beginning' is incorrect; it should be 'The project started at the month beginning' or 'The project started, with the first month beginning in January'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "month beginning" primarily functions as a noun phrase or a reduced relative clause (e.g., 'the month [which is] beginning...'). In most examples provided by Ludwig, it acts as a temporal marker that establishes a start date for a specified duration or event. It is often used in a participial sense to modify a preceding time-bound noun.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Social Media

1%

General Conversation

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "month beginning" is a highly versatile and correct English phrase used to denote the start of a calendar period. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is most prevalent in formal contexts like journalism, legal statutes, and scientific reporting. It is almost always used to provide a specific starting point for a duration, such as 'for one month beginning January 1'. While more common in writing than speech, it remains an essential tool for clear temporal scheduling. When writing, ensure the phrase is followed by a specific date to maximize its communicative value and avoid potential ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

beginning of the month

Uses a more standard prepositional structure that is highly interchangeable.

start of the month

Replaces 'beginning' with 'start' for a slightly more direct tone.

month starting

Uses the present participle 'starting' instead of 'beginning', maintaining the same meaning.

early in the month

Refers to a general period rather than the exact commencement point.

commencing this month

A more formal and professional variation often found in legal or business contracts.

first of the month

Refers specifically to the first day, whereas 'month beginning' can be broader.

month onset

Scientific or technical alternative used to describe the start of a phenomenon.

opening of the month

Metaphorical or literary way to describe the start of a new calendar period.

initial part of the month

Describes a range of time rather than a specific starting date.

month upcoming starting

Specifically refers to a future month's initiation.

FAQs

How do I use "month beginning" in a sentence?

You can use it to define a schedule, for example: 'The subscription is valid for one month beginning on the date of purchase'. It often acts as a post-modifier for a duration.

Is it correct to say "month beginning" or "beginning of the month"?

Both are correct, but they serve different purposes. "month beginning" is typically followed by a specific date (e.g., 'beginning May 1'), while "beginning of the month" is a general phrase referring to the first few days.

What can I say instead of "month beginning"?

Depending on the context, you can use "month starting", "commencing", or "from the start of the month".

What is the difference between "month beginning" and "start of the month"?

The phrase "month beginning" is more frequent in technical, legal, or journalistic contexts to denote the start of a period, whereas "start of the month" is more common in everyday spoken English.